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January 29, 2004 In
this issue:
Announcement JANUARY
RAFFLE
Do
You Have Monsters Under Your Bed? Several recent emails have got me thinking about all the different feng shui cures and rituals (especially those from the BTB practice) that involve placing something under your pillow or between the mattress and box spring or in a specific position under the bed. The reason these methods are effective is due to two fundamental rules of feng shui. The first is the principle of proximity, which states that the closer something is to you the stronger its effect will be. The second is the principle of duration, which means that the longer you are exposed to a particular influence -- whether beneficial or harmful -- the stronger its effect will be. If we all were getting that elusive eight full hours of sleep every night, we'd be spending a third of our lives in bed. Even with long days, too much do to in too little time, and the chronically sleep-deprived state of so many people, it's probably safe to say that the average person is spending about 25% of his or her time in bed. Keeping the factors of proximity and duration in mind, this means that whatever is happening with the feng shui of the bedroom is going to have a big impact. And whatever is going on around the bed is even more important. Since you are probably well protected from below by a nice thick mattress, whatever you've got stashed beneath your bed isn't likely to be physically harmful. But, as I hope you know by now, in feng shui the symbolic meaning or energy of an object is just as important as whatever literal impact it may have. If you are using the underbed area for storage, take a moment to think about the symbolic implications of whatever is down there, especially if you haven't been sleeping well. If you aren't sure what's under there, it's time to take another look. Here are some types of things that you ought to find another place for: - Shoes. Lots of people keep extra shoes under the bed, but this can keep you "running around" all night even when you are sound asleep. - Exercise clothes or sports equipment are also less than relaxing. I cringe every time I channel-surf past an infomercial showing how conveniently some piece of exercise magic folds up flat to slide out of the way underneath the bed. Unless you want to feel like you're "going nowhere fast" in life, don't store your treadmill or rowing machine or aerobic step under the bed. It's best not to have any kind of exercise or sports equipment in the bedroom at all if you can find another place for it. - Books and work or school papers can have an intellectually stimulating seffect; if you have trouble turning your mind-chatter off so you can fall asleep at night, make sure you are not sleeping on top of a lot of information. Plus, chances are good that if you're keeping that stuff under the bed it probably isn't at all current, so all that old information is also energetically holding you in the past. - Guns and knives. I really hope you don't feel the need to have these in your house at all. All that potential violence is not condusive to a good night's sleep, no matter how "safe" it may make you feel. A feng shui friend once told me she'd consulted for a guy who collected knives, and who kept that collection under his bed. No wonder he complained of a long string of failed relationships. Regardless of any other qualities he may or may not have had, that's a lot of cutting chi underlying what should be a place for romantic connection. I'm sure that no matter how long I made this list, there are plenty of folks with all kinds of things under their bed that I would never think of. These examples should give you some idea of the sort of potentially disruptive effect the stuff under your bed can have. Ideally, you won't store anything under your bed at all, but if you must use that space for storage reserve it for soft, cuddly items like extra bedding or your winter sweaters. And you may even find a good use for that space by placing something with positive symbolic meaning there, so you can take conscious advantage of the proximity and duration effect. For example, I have heard that laying a mirror face up under the bed can help with insomnia; symbolically the mirror reflects the bed downward, thus drawing the person in the bed "downward" into deep, restful sleep. (I haven't tried this myself, so I'd love to hear if it works for you.) For a child who is frightened of imaginary monsters under the bed, placing a super-tough-guy action figure under there could provide some important protection. Take a look at this issue's Q+A section for another idea of how to turn a potential storage problem into a positive symbol. Sweet dreams everyone.
Feng
Shui Q+A (Most questions will have been edited for clarity and length, and any identifying details have been changed. Please note that due to the high volume of email I receive, it is no longer possible for me to respond to every question personally. I still welcome your questions, and if I cannot provide a personal response I will try to address your issue in a future Q+A column.) Q: I have limited storage space, and have been keeping my empty suitcases under the bed. Is this okay? A: This is an excellent example of why good feng shui often has more to do with making wise decisions based on your specific circumstances, rather than blinding following an ideal "rule." The feng shui "rule" for under-bed storage is "don't do it." But for those who live in small homes (myself included), every inch of possible storage space is extremely valuable - and that includes under the bed. It's a tradeoff between keeping the under-bed space open, and cluttering up some other area of your home with the stuff that otherwise might be put away there. My preference is to keep the more visible, frequently used areas of the home uncluttered. If that means storing some things under the bed, so be it, so long as it is done thoughtfully and appropriately. Empty suitcases take up a lot of space! My first suggestion is to think about whether you can use the suitcases themselves as storage for something else that you don't need to get at right away, such as extra linens or off-season clothes. By filling the suitcases with things already in a closet, the suitcases as well might now fit in there. You'll have to unpack them, of course, before repacking for your next trip, so if you travel frequently that might be too much of an inconvenience. If you only use the suitcases a few times a year, it might be worth the additional small hassle. Anything that is close to you while you sleep will have a strong effect on you, either physically or symbolically. That's why the general advice about under-bed storage is that it should be used - if necessary - only for soft items such as sweaters, towels, or extra bedding. When it comes to keeping luggage under the bed, how you feel about travel is an important consideration. If you enjoy traveling, and want to do more of it, then having the luggage under the bed will help to encourage that. Inside the suitcases you can put guidebooks, photos, travel accessories, and other items related to the places where you'd like to go. For example, if you dream of a trip to Paris, put a guidebook to the city, your French-English phrase book, and a photo of the Eiffel Tower in the empty suitcase under your bed. Add some French currency, as well, or traveler's checks for the future trip. On the other hand, if you've been traveling a lot lately, and would like to stay home for a change, then I definitely recommend finding some other place to keep your luggage until you are ready to use it again. If you absolutely, positively have no alternative to keeping the suitcases under the bed -- and you really want a break from travel - then put a rock in each one and cover them with a blanket, to help them settle in for a long rest and to keep you grounded at home.
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With warm aloha,
We also invite you to visit our other sites: All About Prosperity.com - Win the inner and outer game of wealth. Having the right mindset and knowledge leads to right opportunity and action. FR.EE downloads available. Clutter-Free Forever Home Coaching Program - Is a cluttered, messy, disorganized home slowing you down, stealing your energy and depressing your spirit? Our highly acclaimed program will help you reclaim your space and your life! Feng Shui Ebooks.com - The popular Fast Feng Shui book is now available in ebook format for immediate download! Learn the 9 simple principles for transforming your life and your home. Miscellaneous Newsletter Archives This newsletter is published approximately twice a month. If you missed our previous issues, you can read them here. ••• (c)
2004 Stephanie Roberts. All rights reserved.
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